Mix It Up In the OW

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Dave and I were originally heading to Pickwick Lake with some good friends for a day of boating and fun, but I have ended up having to work a bit this weekend, so going out of town just wasn't going to happen.

I managed to bring some lake-time into my weekend with a short visit to David Barczak's house in Lakeland. David has kindly offered up his home to all triathletes in the area to practice open water swimming. How generous!!! Several years ago, Jen H. repeatedly told me that I needed to practice in the open water. I thought it was a great idea on paper, but I just didn't have a place to practice! Now I have no excuses.

Caroline was my buddy for the day. Yahoo! Caroline is super, speedy runner chick and a great friend. We both really need to work on our OW swims, and there is nothing better than doing it together! I have said this before, but it is worth repeating in my mind. Good female training partners are a gem. Training to me is not racing. It is not about beating up your buddy or proving how great your training is going. It is about doing YOUR specific workout, and using the assistance of your training partner to motivate and encourage you- and offering that same motivation and encouragement back. Caroline is a great example of how to be that type of training partner.

Our goals for the day: help Caroline get a little more endurance in the OW and help her work on sighting + help Damie pick up the pace a little bit without panic and learn to swim into a slight chop

This is just a small part of the lake. Caroline and I just did 200 yard repeats because the boat traffic was a little high due to the holiday weekend. But, I have heard that there is a one mile loop, so I am going to beg David to let me follow his feet on a lake adventure one day.

Finished!!! What did I learn today?

1. The number one thought I had on my mind for the most of the swim? Snakes. Every couple of strokes I thought about snakes. I didn't want to go near the wall or touch the bottom of the lake in case a snake might be there- although I know they aren't (water moccasins will not be at the bottom of a lake- they float on top, but they can swim and bite underwater- just FYI). My mom asked me the other day why I panic in open water...she said, "are you scared of piranha's or something?" No mom, snakes. And in the ocean? Sharks. Snakes and sharks...always on my mind. I really need to develop some happy thoughts when I swim. How about..."turtles and dolphins?"

2. The chop really gets to me and affects my breathing and increases the chance of panic. It took me a while to learn to swim a little more effectively through the choppy parts of the lake. I will definitely need to keep practicing this.

3. Open water swimming requires a different kind of strength. I can't always just glide along like I can in a pool. I need to keep developing my overall strength.

Man, and now the night is almost over! Where does the precious time go? I hope everyone has the day off tomorrow! Enjoy!

Memphis has had some awful weather this spring, but this morning was as gorgeous as it gets. Last year I did a lot of morning riding, but I have not have not done one single group ride in the morning this year. I was so excited when Tim said he would meet me early to get in a few extra easy miles, and then we jumped in the "small chain ring Peddler Friday ride." It is a very easy ride, which sets me up perfectly for a little harder ride on the weekend. It was such a beautiful, crisp morning. I can always count on Tim to put in a few extra miles in the dark, dark morning. Unfortunately, no picture of Tim...he made fun of me last time I brought my camera for a morning ride. I guess guys don't take pictures of "their day." :)
But Rachel was down for a picture or two! It was so great to chat with her all morning long. We used to meet 2-3 x week to ride in the am and then do some post-ride running drills. She is just such an incredible athlete and nice person- it is such a good friend to see first thing in the morning.



And no morning is complete without ball time in the back yard. I mean, Rooney is so pitiful in the morning while he waits for me in the kitchen to come and play. He really has his "routines." I am starting to notice that all of his routines involve me. How did Dave get an exemption?

Happy Morning- Happy Friday!!!!

Eh. I don't really have a post topic today. I have a lot of random thoughts running through my head. To fix that problem, I just poured a glass of wine.

My swim...
I honestly love to swim. I think it is fun, and I feel a huge sense of accomplishment when I swim. As an adult that had to learn to swim more than 25 yards straight without stopping, it feels great to be able to swim 1 mile...2 miles...etc. I don't take it for granted.

Exit at MIM swim

I am not a strong swimmer. Like most other sports, I can swim at an even pace for a long time. Hello slow twitch fibers! I have never been known for strength or speed, even in soccer. So, I just have not developed a lot of speed in my past few years of swimming. But...it is getting better. It is just a slow, slow process.

From time to time I still have mild panic attacks in the water. Like Sunday at MIM, when I back stroked, tarzan stroked, breast stroked, tread water, etc. My inner voice sounded something like this for the first half mile: "I am withdrawing from my Ironman. I don't want to die. When I finish this swim, I am never racing again. I don't ever want to do another triathlon. This just isn't worth it." I promise you, I said all of those things. That is where I was on Sunday. It doesn't matter that I attend master's class religiously, or that I have had my stroke analyzed by 2 Olympic swimmers (why say I look good, BTW), or that I have been doing triathlons now for 5 years...I still have some tough times in the water.

I have another opportunity to practice open water racing next weekend at a half iron distance race. I am stating my goal right now: I will swim freestyle the entire way with no panic on my back. I'll let you know how it goes.

Here is a good picture of me riding in my flat at Memphis in May last weekend. If you click on the pic, you can probably see the rear flat. I am standing up on my bike, thanks to Jen Harrison, I think. As I was riding in, I remembered (or at least I thought I remembered) that Jen caught a flat several years ago towards the end of a race. I seemed to recall that she stood up to ride in to get the weight off of her rear rim. This actually makes a ton of sense to me as a former equestrian. You always displace your weight to the front of the horse for jumping, racing, well...so many things...but the point is, you get your weight off of their haunches by sitting forward. Once I remembered this, I stood up on my bike for the rest of the ride.

We really do learn things from people by reading blogs!

And, I can't believe I am smiling in the bike picture. Attitude truly is a choice.